THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 213, 2 December 1909, Page 3

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

AM, ; * r.v -r.n*. ::r>

!■.> M\r ruct: srniT. Author id "1h- Mark of the Broad Arrow, etc. etc.

rART ». CIIA ITER VII. COISIX ALISON EXHIBITS TRUE CililT. An I ih n. in view of his increased imi'on.Hlliiliik'H Hermann Starniforth tmit (I h»* nil*n"ion to lh- ntnni•idntron of lh' "knives act." a fen»ur»* on nhith hj» relied lo K-curi' hiu ati'l add to lh-» a*tractiv»ness of his "turn." Hut Selino. at all times n-rvous. rml oft»n g» nuinely terriliid at Ix-ing :a'l>il iijnn to face th**. glittering «i>vl. vn* palpably at her worst «h n th • rrh-nrsals were watched ni h bat«d breath by Alison. to v. h >iu Hermann's feats were a rivfi.iitrn. anJ who took th* most ,l> orhin » interest in the* (lj ittj; Irtt *!-•?*. * H'Ttuonii ha.l practised it awid in.»!v with th.? aiit of his rhilM tiniliii". «*v« n had a pa»H«d back-i-roiK d made, into which dnntiiiy made of papier ma<h*. eni- •» »"d d ih*ir pornts. and aga int «h;ih Selina would stand euite «t adilv. an I with comparative f,n'l> s.« n *-<.

i;ui nh-n it came to ih» i»n-iet«l tot lii ltd a»d the deadly slirl. hj•• tottrajse «h»/» <1 out at her linger t ip>. »n l h*r husband at last gave up ;h iil« a a*■ hopeless.

"It ain't no use to"'"". S«'Sir.a." h- sa ; «l. r.-gret fully. "The thinjr can't b* don • nohow! Your fa-e a!pn* would divert my aim." "An* I'm that sorr>". Ifermie." she cried, with ver>- real tears of distress*. "You'll have to get the other woman, of course, though I hate to ih'nV of comin" "I wor.d"r if you'd let me try. Hermann?" asked the hitherto silent •pertator of the scene. "You. Cousin Altaon!" he cxclaiincil in >lkit «mn*ero»nt.

"Ye*, t. I've been watching you <n many day* now. and I know your nrtti >n «o unfaltering and accurate, there is no fear you may make a slip. An I in i his all depends on the fKTlrct confidence of your assistant. I*ry ni». I do not think 1 should feel lh • slightest tremor?" 11.- imiktil long and steadily into H- eyes. Selina meanwhile suffering in on ng« ny of envy and cowardice rombitix d. "Suntilinw. t don't think you Rntilil AIM* tt." h:> said. "Lets try with the diimiiiies first." Sh»- Klpod «h-re he placed Iter with her I tack to th* paddtl board, and in a few mii»uti*s h* had driven lh* pa-pier-iiiarh * counterfeits all around H-t «rilh>n a hair's bread!h of h*r clothInsj. of ht-r d»*li»nle white throat. ev»n of h'r luxuriant lta»r. Ilot Ki'lira h,vl dom* o» mmh »» lh«il; ooly thtl Hermann Srtnniforlh —himself no mean phythuliipisi _now f«*lt a dtfler«nt influm-s* emanating towards him from th* |wrsonatily i»( h>s cousin as eoinpan-d with that of h»s wife. Stella's trepidation her tretnbllnsf. nervous appr»*hen**i«'n. travell<d through space and rendered his own efforts unsteady. »!iito<l akoriive. That In ilsM-lf was fatal. If ImpoHslhlo to overcome. Itut now a ealni. reposeful aura pervaded the n'mosph »r»*. Tl»«* w«»man's ey«*» looked straight inio h>s own: no exprvswion of perfetl trust or l relk.n e beamed from h*r every fenlurt*. They wen' al.' ; o!utely en rapport, ami both felt as muili. "Yes. I gunw we m«> try •Il • l»niv««s." h* said. "Only. Cousin Alis* n. you'll promise to cry |»eccavi if you ev» n b -gin to feel faint." "I psonise." she said, quietly.

!!•* fi\«il th? board in position, and Coisin Alison obryi d h»s direction* in posing litvlf in fronl of it. Ai«l«d by Srlsna's advice and tl«*rnKtin.< purse, her scan I y wnnlrotie hnl been nileepiately. if simply, rr-plmv-h.d. opd the dainty gown of n I nt.- •.had - of eau-de-llil she now wore 1,,-mnl rt il 'lightful contrast *•»!» the ilark purple velvet. Iferntann wo* 100 occupied with hi* < ,/,• th.- netual woman, but Selinn'* h iirt smote h*r with on unutterable P»»n< »"* *he* saw the beauty of lh? 1,, iur—lh" svelte, graceful lines of ' I'ousir. Alison"* " figure, the mobile d'snity of the reposeful face, the admired* disorder of the shorn, rebellious locks, which—^because of being itlwin. r»*fu»e<l to be k«pt Lack from lb** broad, intellectual brow. I let* »etr graces to which poor Si-J na hersMl could never aspire. Hh? kn *w full well that sow her husband. in*«nt only on the trick, had no e>e«9 for his cousin's physical peri»rliens; but. the trick once an asaiin ti success, would hi# vision become inicrisificd. or spread over other arras?

Poor Selina! Site was very human, and yet called upon to bear mora than surety should be asked of mere flesh and bloodCould *hc* look on and say honestly *h' hoped Cousin Alison would swtcwtd where Ilertnle's wife hid failed. >h* who had hitherto bee-n hi? o»*v h IpinaU*? Was there not n lurkeny ho|>«* that Alison's boasted co<ir«Me should falter befori* the glis--o'l'J horror of those sharp kufves? i» r —or— Ko, nut that—not that! Corf h*r from th»; temptation lo ihmk evil—to wish harm to the t-i.t who now stood with all th<* immovability of a statue awaiting th ..-d a' from which Selina had so i ctiouoiiiously been compelled to ret r> »»t.

And then. v\ib as Alison had n ntehed her own unsuccessful efforts it wn* now her turn to look on with bated breath. rcoircing bitterly that th* moment W husband had forgotten he*r very existence, so utterly ihoorlteJ was he in Ihe successful l».-rloriiirtnte ,J the trick which he bad laboured so hard and so untirto perfection.

And sh" dug her finger-nails deep in'o her »turily little palm*, and bit her lip* until they bled in the horror whuh needed stein repre*sle>n to endure in silence, as now the air see*md a' »nce fllleel with gllstm'ng. d-\»f h-el -a'ing weapons, glim ins; in ' he .wn h»ne f* they flew rnp ; d'y

lr. ,m I lei rnni-n s ti-xtnie minus, one mi >'tvr. like sivessimt flasiv-s .»; forked lightning. His fare was and set. vet resolute; his teeth v..-r- firmly cier.thed. ami the only ' ind audible in the room were th" hi-s of the blades as they cleft the sir wi«h such velocity, and the (hud nith which each sharp point embedded itself in the vclvct-covcred board Selina kept her eyes fixed on her husband s face; towards Alison she stared not look, until Hermann stopped sud-l n!v. holding up his hand in warn ng that Alison should not attempt to move. And then Selina following his eyes •it t«*red n cry, half in terror, half in idmiratioiiKor from th>» waist liir\ passing ~' iul hf shapely shoulders, and over her graceful head. Cousin AI •- *■ n was practically impaled to where h- stood by sharp. broad-blad>d. l-nives. The slightest voln* a r.v movement must have drawn .l«.od". as the p«»int hnd Is-eii driven. ai> h n marvellously n ci urate precisr. ii. w i'h n actual touch of h-r neck •.n*l of her shell-like ears, even be-iw.-n lh- lingers of one hand, placed by Hermann ir. a suitable position lo receive them. Th ' man who had for so Ion;; ine.nrdiy giv« n up tli • task as so much fruitless, labour, was no less surprised than d -lighted at this out•oine of his effort*. this, realization of his hopes. AnJf to - think thnt the omierly tinrd "little Cousin Ali--on " ha ( | <|.»v<*lo|>ed surh real grit! Well, jforrow- was said lo do much "or a woman—or was it thai, owing lo h-r men'al trouble. .»h» did noi valiz* the danger in which she ■»t ood.'

Kor l.'ermnitn Si«:iriiforih could n»l know that from b>g«»ne ag<'.s it was a- ra'ural for •h ■ Mor ays to are glittering imniiichiiigly as or n duck lo lake lo water. The Moray* of oUI ha«l fought to the n-t man for King and country; hj; *i<al courage an«l eiwluran - e were •'.er Ih'ir strong points, and llar-->a"a was a true da'ighter of th-» 'OCO.

Hut as one by on* he look out the • Hives —forty in all—and released her 'rout h«-r perilous position hj" was <iiiiliiigly assuring himself she had pal YanVre grit %nd was a credit lo I n Sam an I ih * land of freclom nrro-s the A! 1- n ic. "Thai's just ma ,n;fic« nt. Alison." h • sm'd. as she drew a long breath wh n fit* ln-l I n;fe had been removed in I vivib'y relaxed* th* tension of i r n*rves. "How d'ye feel after t»"

"As «»n • might feel after a hair•r> a lt h I'Haiif froin n burn'ng house »r from shipwreck, or from the fall it an aval.in/h *." sh<* crie<| excitedly "Il was (i big emotion. Hermann. It was spb-itd d lo look on your face in its intensity of d•termination. I n-'Ver once saw lh* I nives. nor felt Ehem—even when they must have grazed my hair." "Whi«h lit -y did. Look here! That mustn't happ n again:" and Hermann showed t hr<-e or four deep reel ihnads clinging to one of the blade '""Sokes. Ilermie. a >had'* closer to V r head, and you have killed her outright!" cried Selina. Hermann laughed.

"11a. Selina. I ha«l forgotten you were looking on!*' As if the poor link* wile did not know- as much. "Uhai d'ye think of it. anyway?" "Wli-it I've always thought." returned his wife. "It's a big thing ; lakes on**"s breath away. But it'r longeron*."

"Not a hit of it." returned the juggler, "as long as the element of iVar lies dormant. I had every conid n«e in myself 'Twos your terror S-lira. communicated itself to n*. and rendered me shaky. With Alison ne»w "

"I gu.~s Alison ain't no inore'n a .omnn." Interrupted Se'lina, pithily; 'nisil woman. I've heard say, can't il«a>s lie reckoned on to l>e always n th" saute identical mood- She's lon* ii in spbitdiil style, I grant, ->ut I'm of opinion she ain't a macn n*. and 'twould Ik* just a calamity Ilermie. if her n-rves d dn't prove H|ii;»l to her wi.»hes. And anyway. 1 iusyis \ ou'd liuve women shrie*king nut in Ihe ihenire for fe*ar the knives aiight miss, and flick into her." "I'm ralher counling or. that sort >f thing." return *d Stanniforth. "I .\aiit ill- act to lie a hig se-nsation."

"T«ke care it ain't a bigger one *h«n you've l argain-d for." replied Selina* drv ly. going out of the *oo«t-

"I'oor Utile woman!" said her -uisban I. tenderly. "It's rough on 1-r to know she has failed ntc for *ack of sheer nerve force," "Perhaps I oifght not lo have profer.tl to elo it. Hermann.'' suggested ihi* now- accept«*d (,'ousin Alison, "f nean. It was perhaps unkind to Selno. Hut I—l wanted to help you." "And you did." he replied, eagerly 'you did, if only by d-monstrating that my idea contain< d the ele-ne-nts of possibility. J wonder—l *onder——Do you think you would ;are, or could bring yourself to help me professionally, IJttlc coz?" " Professional lv^?**"Yes, In my work —my business. I am not sure that I ought to ask vou." "Why?" she asked innocently.

"Surely if there Is any way in which I can be of service, you ought to acrord me the privilege—you who have been so good and kind to mc." "If. is my duty as well as my pleasure to be good *&nd kind to vou—to take care of you, Alison." "Is it, really?'-"' "Ifcally. I am, except Monica, «our oniv living relative, Alison." "And dor*s Monica approve of yout work—your profession?" "Yes. dear. She sent you to me. ronfided you to my care, remember." "No; I don't remember; but if y»u «ay j-o it Is true. Thin it cann >' b* wrong that I should help you, il able to do so.""If you have no prejudice agaiunl music-halls dear, I suppose not." "Should 1 have to go on the itngt*?" "Yes. Alison."■ "Not in—costume?" "So, I think I'd prefer- you in ordinary evening dress—something •legant and refined." Selina dressed a« a page-boy in het nightly attendance on bis juggling net*, but somehow, though he could not have explained wh.v. for the Slanniforths boasted no high degree, he realized that this was not an ir.slon e in which the ordinary tights nnd spangles woutd Ije either becoming or appropriate. "Hut," he continued. "Sclina's

Tast r«'uT7iiic nas reminded me oi a possible ihutj-r. In this room with ih" exception of intermittent sounds from the street, wo arc in comparative sih nee. In hall or theatre, there might be. as she says, hysterical women, who would bo frightened and shriek. Would such interruption's disturb your balance —causo you to start, for instance?" "I don't think so." she replied. "I doubt if I shortJd even hear thorn. My mind would tjc as it was just eow, n nf' titrated on you and fixed •«n ih* determination, the will to help you." "It's rr-a 1 (rood of you, deal" little 'o;i: 'n Ali.xi n." said Herman Stanifor:h with d"ep feeling. "Though I'm n >t at all sure that I'm justified n a' ailing myself of your courage nd g'lierosiiy." 1I«» was thinking of Keith Heriot. CIIAPTKU VIIF. " i woxdkh who aim IS?" "Hy Jove. Hester, old fellow, where «-n earih did you spring from, hj?" "l-Yoin „ h.in-oui, Teniplecombe. and a*; you were so proinin nily in •vidvi're in I lie window <if the siiio'.;ing room. \mi might have seen as uiiirh for yourself," was th.* airy reply.

"Ah. yes. of Course. Smart as ever: hard to get any informal ion You w t) uld rather Jteep close, ill.'" "Tin? old journalist in<t:nt, •lohniiy. The pressman who related his news viva voce would cer'.a'nly discount the sale of his paper. Wait until the morning journafei com" out an*l you'll g-t far more informal>• n r<*s|H*ct !nj* my d«>ings thru I'm in the inood lo n-trrale. Hut I'm g'ad to sec you. Jack. Come an I d n ■*.' After all, it's good to be back in Uwrry—which to-day might be altered to murky—Kngland."

"lU.tn away a year, hav<n't yon, Hester*?" asked Sir John Templecombe. a young inar., under thirty, fair, with straightforward blue eyes, tawny hair, and a long, curling moustache, which appeared to afford him great relief when lost for an expression or puzzled how to reply. "i'-es; arrived at Southampton this morning," replied Sir Talbot* Hester, shivering slightly as the two men proceeded together "to the diningroom of an important club in Piccadilly. "Come over to a quiet corner I don't feel in the mood to talk tonight. You don't count, Johnny. You can talk, and I needn't tax my nuntal resources to reply except— Pshaw! Jack, you're taking me seriously. Can't you sec I'm too raw to lie drawn into a discussion on the state of affairs in South Africa, or the quest i< n of fiscal reform.

A year had indeed passed since Sir Talbot led Barbara Moray to the altar of St. Margaret's, Westminster—a year which, at first sight, had passed him by unscathed. Looking more closely at him as he sat there, handsome and self-posses-sed, in his immaculate evcn : ng dress one might have" thought additional lines had gathered round his eyes and mouth; that the linn curves o; the latter had developed an added suspicion of cruelly ; that the piercing eyes held something that th-y n&d not held before--an expression ol bailed desire, of n lurking intention lo combat and conquer a living, if undeclared, enemy, who might at any moment announce the fact of his—enemies being, presumably, of the sterner sex—existence. Under the influence of his favourite orand of chainpagn?, howeverr he soon relaxed his air of suppressed enmity, directed agaiust an unseen foe. and talked gaily lo ii is companion. "Well, Johnny," he said, "in what theatre ir. that susceptible heart oi yours running amok at present? Al which of the stage-doors arc y. u keeping tryst with painstaking regularity, notwithstanding that the November fogs will to imm-i tia e!y upon us ?"

"Nonsense, Talbot," return -d the young baronet, his fair skin ivld- ning slightly under the other's critical observation. "I haven't been near a theatre for weeks." "Then th- attraction is located at one of the halls?"

"There is an attraction located at one of lh* halls—the Parthenon." returned Sir John —"one which is drawing all London; one which, if you've nothing better to do to-night I should strongly recommend you to see.'-

"Indeed! What is her name, the colour of h-r hair and eyes? In what particular form of the terpsirhorean art does she excel?" "Don't be a fool, Hester!" was the slightly irritable reply. "You don't for a moment suppose I am referring lo a ballet-dancer! The attraction to which I am alluding is a juggling performance " "A female juggler! And you are interested in such a flat, .stale, an<l form of amusement, Johnny?" "Not a female juggler. The performer is a man, an American, assisted by his wife

"Ah,* Johnny, Johnny!" "Confound you, why don't y o u listen without interruption?" and Sir John tugged fiercely at his moustache. "The wife is a commonplace little person attired in tights and spangles, and Ihe man and woman together go through the ordinary (uggling experiments with balls, sticks, globes, &c.—What do you say?" "I made no remark. Sir John. I aut waiting your good pleasure to explain to me what particular incident n the show* is drawing all London." returned the other, in a satirical tone. "I'll be hanged if I tell you." cried the younger man "Will you Come and see for yuurs<-lf "H'm ! jierhaps, after a cigar—only in an ordinary v.;iy Aren't ih » ' juggling shows ptit r.n early in th-- even"ln an ordinary wa;- . : Hut this one is e.v*: and Stanniforth" " "Stannifor; h'?"One less in his subject than Sir John rWiipi'-comlie msght have remark'-d a surpr^'- 1 . almost ainou:," '•> ' i ::"a-: !>• m the eyes ot Sir Ta'.i-i>* IJ <■st •- r. and an ir.volur.t av;.- :c'>v-M-*n* oi 'n-j hand in"-!airly .•:.*!*••!'.••<'.. "The nam-- oi 'h- "■-'-'• r 1 lermar.n Stannifor' h h,-.* was I s-ay;i>g? Oh, yes: his *••;.-• h:r*y. h you'll g<> *.'••*'" riiu I'a;'* thenou and a l->.x To be Continued.